For the first time, Merced County Fair exhibitors were invited to show their winemaking talents at the 2011 fair.

There were 23 entries in the 2011 Merced County Fair's Amateur Wine Divisions. There was a division for red wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and other varieties. There also was a division for white wines – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and other varieties.

Exhibitors entering their wine to be judged at the fair can't have an enology degree, work in a winery or any winemaking capacity or earn money from commercial wine production. Wine entered in the fair must be personally produced by the exhibitor but the grapes don't have to be grown by the exhibitor.

Ribbons were awarded in this competition for the first, second and third place wines in each division.

One of the entrants in the fair's first-ever wine divisions competition was Mario Medeiros of Atwater. He and his father, John, worked as a team to produce a Zinfandel and a black grape variety wine – both wines were 2010 vintages and were awarded third place ribbons at the fair.

Winemaking is in his genes. "As a kid, I learned from watching Dad and his friends making wine," said Mario Medeiros, whose father was born in the Azores Islands.

Winning ribbons at the fair for their wine was particularly sweet because Mario Medeiros is a quadriplegic. While Mario was in charge of ingredients and oversaw the wine production, his father racked the wine and handled the housekeeping duties. "We were both in charge of winetasting, exchanging ideas and keeping the conditions right for mother nature and the wine to take their course," Mario Medeiros said, adding, "I give Dad instructions on what to do – he acts as my hands."

The father-son team entered two wines in the fair, and Mario Medeiros and his friend, Roger Brum, entered a third wine – a White Concord grape wine they made from Brum's backyard grape crop. "Although the Concord wine lost this time, we'll continue to work out the kinks," Mario Medeiros said.

Entering the wine competition is "a fun thing to do and one way to improve homemade wine is to let others judge and taste your wine," he said.

Medeiros has educated himself on winemaking by reading books and magazines and he checks out wine blogs including the local wine blog, Central Cal Home Vinters on Facebook. "Everyone there really tries to enlighten one another and welcomes new bloggers," he said.

The father-son winemaking team plan to keep perfecting their wine and hope to enter the fair's winemaking contest next year. "Ribbons are an indication of being on the right track making wine," Mario Medeiros said, adding, "So we're very happy to get two ribbons out of three bottles of wine entered in that tough contest. It was an impartial pat on the back. It means something."

Publicity Report – Merced County Fair

Exhibitors – Alphabetical

Dept - 8 Baking Confections, Div - 65 Red Wine Thru Div - 66 White Wine

Mike Altomara, Merced, CA

1st, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 1 - Cabernet Sauvignon

2nd, 8 - Baking Confections, 66 - White Wine 4 - Chardonnay

Alan Arnold, Merced, CA

1st, 8 - Baking Confections, 66 - White Wine, 6 - Other Varieties

2nd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 2 - Zinfandel

2nd, 8 - Baking Confections, 66 - White Wine, 5 - Sauvignon Blanc

Loren Arnold, Merced, CA

1st, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 3 - Other Varieties

Andrew Littlejohn, Ballico, CA

1st, 8 - Baking Confections, 66 - White Wine, 4 - Chardonnay

3rd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 1 - Cabernet Sauvignon

Mario Medeiros, Atwater, CA

3rd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 2 - Zinfandel

3rd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine 3 - Other Varieties

Dennis Nichols, Merced, CA

2nd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 1 - Cabernet Sauvignon

2nd, 8 - Baking Confections, 65 - Red Wine, 3 - Other Varieties

Mark Theofanides, Merced, CA

3rd, 8 - Baking Confections, 66 - White Wine, 4 - Chardonnay

For more information call (209) 722-1507, fax (209) 722-3773, or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com. Visit the Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com and connect with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.